Piano Pranks and More Jokes! A Collection of 8 Fun Solos for Elementary, Inspired by Jokes: Studio License

This adorable collection is full of fun! Encourage your students to read and share these jokes out loud! You’ll find jokes in the pieces but included is 4 more pages of JOKES! Notice that each piece is inspired by a joke (included at the top of the page or in the lyrics) - feel free to open a discussion about the title. Do they think it works? Are there double meanings..? What jokes would your students add? Could they write a song to describe it?

Even though we are having lots of fun here, there’s still serious learning going on: see below for the pedagogical purpose of each piece.

Knock, Knock: Kicking off the collection is a fun Knock, Knock joke - we are Just in time for a joke! C position. 4/4 time. Skill development: Staccatos. Left Hand cross over finger 2. Counting rests. Accidentals. Playing with a Duet.

Short & Long: Understanding opposites is so important. Here we have a feature with Staccatos & Fermatas. Skill development: SHORT: Obviously, it’s really short and explores Staccatos, and a cross hand Octave for Left Hand. LONG: Play this very slowly and using the Sustain pedal - listen to the blending of sounds. Make sure it takes a LONG time to play!

Run, Cinderella, Run!: All kinds of puns here, starting with Run, Cinderella, Run - like Run, Forest, Run (maybe the students are too young to know - that’s a joke for the teachers!) She’s running from the Ball (dance) but also running to score a Soccer goal! Skill development: Fast playing. Step wise motion but watch out for the skips! Cross over finger 2. Grace note and Octave lower at the end.

Mi Mi Mi!: Do you know the old cliche of singers warming up before the performance? Here’s a chance to introduce Solfège to your students with this super simple Cross hand Arpeggios. Skill development: Cross hand arpeggios. Different hand positions based on chords. Solfège.

Pirates are Pirates! ARRR! I had to include a fun Pirate piece here! If your students aren’t playing in 6/8 time yet, here is a simple one to learn by rote. Right hand never moves out of it’s position, while Left hand finger 2 crosses over.
Skill development: D minor position. 6/8 time. Counting. Left Hand cross over. Accidentals written in. Cross hand arpeggios at the end for a splashy ending!

“A” Tuning Fork: Have you ever heard the Orchestra TUNE up? You’ll hear lots of “A”s, since the strings on the Violin are G, D, A, and E. This piece focuses on a tonal center of A. Keep the Damper pedal on the whole piece and listen to the sounds it creates. Skill development: Having hands in different positions: RH in A; LH in G position. Left hand cross over Right hand for the Octave.

Do You Know Your Scales?: I couldn’t resist this one! I think your students will really enjoy it! Skill development: C Major scale with some twists and turns and C Major chord & G7 for fun punctuation! Left hand cross over as part of the scale - because I didn’t want to deviate from the regular scale fingering.

Really Low Key: If you know me, you know I LOVE the blues! This simple Blues is Low & Slow... Take your time, and make sure to notice the articulations! Feel free to say, “Yeah!” at the end of the piece! Skill development: Both hands in F & G positions. Repetitive rhythm with syncopation, played in a Swing style.

This is a STUDIO LICENSE: One purchase - One person is allowed multiple copies for students in their Studio. Thank you for honoring the creativity and work of the composer.